Limerick capture All Ireland Fourball title at 19th

Team captain Paddy Power holds the winner’s pennant and club captain Brien Morris the trophy after Limerick’s victory in the All Ireland Four Ball Inter-Club Final at Roe Park Resort, Limavady, Derry, Northern Ireland. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie

Limerick captured the All-Ireland Fourball Inter-Club Championship when they defeated a valiant Ardee side 3-2 in Sunday’s final at Roe Park Resort in Derry.

 Limerick duo Paul Byrnes and Maurice Hickey, fresh from winning by 9&7 in their semi-final match on Saturday, continued their sensational form into the final, accounting for Fergus Duff and John Clarke by 8&7.

Eamon A Grimes and Pat Lee would add Limerick’s second point in the top match beating Keith Taaffe and Noel Malone by 2&1.

Hugh Conlon (Limerick) on the 12th tee during the final of the All Ireland Four Ball Inter-Club Final, Roe Park Resort. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie

 Ardee rallied with Raymond Brady and Brendan McConnell securing the Louth side’s first point in a 4&3 win over Gerard Gleeson and Gavin Cross.

A tense and dramatic conclusion was on the cards when Eamonn Young and James Garland eked out a 1 hole win over Ger Naughton and Edgar Ahern.

After starting with over 300 clubs in the competition, at two matches apiece in the final it came down to the last match which finished all-square after 18.

Ardee’s Thomas Goslin and Louis Taaffe were up against Limerick pair Michael Ahern and Hugh Conlon.  A superb approach by Conlon to the first play-off hole and a two putt par was enough for the win and gave Limerick their first win in this championship.

All-Ireland Fourball Inter-Club Championship, Roe Park

Final, Sunday 15 September

Limerick 3 Ardee 2

1. EA Grimes & P Lee bt Keith Taaffe & N Malone 2&1;

2. P Byrnes & M Hickey bt F Duff & J Clarke 8&7;

3. G Naughton & E Ahern lost to E Young & J Garland 1 hole;

4. G Gleeson & G Cross lost to R Brady & B McConnell 4&3;

5. M Ahern & H Conlon bt T Goslin & Louis Taaffe 19th

Semi-Finals, Saturday, 14 September

County Cavan 2 Limerick 3

1. J Greene & J Murray bt EA Grimes & P Lee 2&1;

2. N Sheridan & F O'Brien bt G Naughton & E Ahern 2&1;

3. R Lyons & P McEnroe lost to P Byrnes & M Hickey 9&7;

4. T Hughes & B Gardiner lost to G Gleeson & G Cross;

5. P Denning & P Cooney lost to M Ahern & H Conlon.

Ardee 4 Ballinrobe 1

1. Keith Taaffe & N Malone bt P Munroe & P McDonald 3&2;

2. F Duff & J Clarke bt M Divilly & M Forde 2 holes;

3. T Goslin & Louis Taaffe bt J Gaynor & P Collins;

4. R Brady & B McConnell halved with G O'Shaughnessy & D Conroy;

5. E Young & J Garland halved with B Martyn & J Donavan